Malawi Congress Party (MCP) may have said sorry, but one of its own members is questioning whether the apology can truly repair the damage left behind by its broken alliances.
Lawyer and MCP member Ayuba James has raised doubts over the party’s attempt to win back former electoral allies, warning that rebuilding trust may take more than an apology.
The concerns come as MCP looks ahead to the 2030 general elections, with the party facing the challenge of restoring relationships with partners who once stood by its side.
MCP spokesperson Jessie Kabwila acknowledged that the party made mistakes while in government and apologized to its former partners including the UTM Party.
“There are things that we should have done better. We have also learnt from the mistakes that we made. Where UTM is concerned, understand that for the things we did not do well, accept our apology,” Kabwila said.
However, James has described the apology as coming too late, arguing that it does not address what he considers to be the fundamental problem within the party.
Mpjiya
According to James, much of what happened during MCP’s time in government was a result of the character and conduct of the leadership rather than the party’s institutional philosophy.
He said continuing with the same leadership while seeking to rebuild alliances could make it difficult for potential partners to trust MCP again.
James argued that political alliances in Malawi are often influenced more by the character and wishes of the person at the top, particularly when a party is in power, than by the policies and structures of the party.
He questioned the sincerity of an apology without corresponding changes in leadership and within the inner circle surrounding the party’s president.
“A mere statement of apology without replacing the man on top and his inner circle is simply a word of pretence. It lacks sincerity and pragmatism,” James said.
He further cautioned MCP against taking support from particular regions for granted, saying votes from across the country including Chitipa, Rumphi and the Lower Shire will be critical in determining the outcome of the 2030 elections.
